[File: /simtelnet/msdos/00_info/aareadme.txt   Last revised: June 15, 1996]

Lists of all files in the Simtel.Net MS-DOS archives and utilities
to display, search, or print them are contained in directory
/simtelnet/msdos/00_info as follows:

simdos-i.zip contains SIMMS.IDX, a comma-delimited listing of all files
     in the MS-DOS subdirectories with a brief one line description for
     each file, which is suitable for importing into a database program.
     This file is updated at approximate 10 day intervals.

simdos-l.zip contains the latest SIMMS.IDX in text format for those
     would would rather not deal with the comma-delimited index.  The
     format of this file is the same as that produced by the SIMCVT
     programs.

These programs can be used to display and search the index:

simdir22.zip displays the file SIMMS.IDX.  You can browse through the
     list by moving a highlight bar and by pressing function keys.
     The file is displayed as a two-level hierarchy.  The upper
     (initial) level consists of a list of directories, and the lower
     level consists of a list of files within a single directory.  At
     the lower level, you can move directly to the next or previous
     directory by pressing a single key, and you can search across
     directory for strings of text.  At either level, you can exclude
     all files that were uploaded before a specified date.  It will
     optionally create an output file of selected file names, suitable
     for use with the BSD Unix BATCHFTP or AUTOFTP programs which are
     available from many Unix archives.

simlst1.zip is a menu-driven program which allows the user to search
     for a file or application by the file name, directory, or do a
     pattern match on the description.  It takes the SIMMS.IDX file
     as it's input and can be updated with the monthly update files.

wsim20.zip is a Windows 3.x program that can convert SIMMS.IDX to a
     dBase III .DBF file.  It then uses this file to do searches on
     filename, directory or description.  All searches are substring
     searches and are not case sensitive.

Also available:

cnvsim10.zip is a program which will convert the SIMMS.IDX file found
     in the current directory to a Paradox table named SIMTEL (creating
     two files - SIMTEL.DB and SIMTEL.PX).

quickref.txt is a quick reference list of Simtel.Net MSDOS directories.

simcvt.bas and simcvt2.bas are BASICA/GWBASIC programs to convert
     SIMMS.IDX to a human-readable text file.

simcvt.c is a Unix C program to print SIMMS.IDX.

simcvt2.c is a Unix C program to search and print SIMMS.IDX.

simcvt.exc is a VM/CMS REXX program to print SIMMS.IDX.

simcvax.bas is a VAX/VMS BASIC V3.3 program to print SIMMS.IDX.

simcvt.for is VAX/VMS FORTRAN program to print SIMMS.IDX.

simcvt.sps is VAX/VMS SPS program to print SIMMS.IDX.

simdisp.awk is an awk script for displaying SIMMS.IDX in outline form.

simdisp.doc explains how to use SIMDISP.AWK.

simdisp.pl is a Perl script to print SIMTEL20's SIMMS.IDX.

simflt10.zip extracts dirs from SIMMS.IDX, writes to new file.

simms.db3 tells how to use SIMMS.IDX with dBASEIII.

simms.hdr is a PC-File+ database header for use with SIMMS.IDX.

simms.inf contains information on record structure of SIMMS.IDX.

simraz12.zip is a program to merge, shorten, rearrange SIMTEL indices.

idx2dat.c is a program to make AutoFTP/BatchFTP scripts from SIMMS.IDX.

simail50.zip reads the output file of the the SIMDIR22 program and
     translates it to multiple output files suitable for mailing to
     LISTSERV or TRICKLE file servers.

fildif.zip is a program for comparing a previous copy of FILES.IDX with
     a new copy.  It displays files added and deleted since you got an
     older index.  This is useful if you are trying to maintain an archive
     in sync with Simtel.Net.  It can generate output scripts for batch FTP
     processing.


         WHERE TO SEND COMPLAINTS, PROBLEMS, QUESTIONS

Messages about Simtel.Net system problems, FTP problems, and network
problems should be directed to ftp-bugs@Simtel.Net.

Messages about files in the MS-DOS collection should be directed to
w8sdz@Simtel.Net.

Messages about problems with BITNET or EARN file servers should be
directed to the system administrator at the server location.

                          Internet                  BITNET

        "John Fisher" <FISHER@VM.ECS.RPI.EDU>   <FISHER@RPIECS>
"TRICKLE Maintainers" <RED-BUG@EGE.EDU.TR>      <RED-BUG@TREARN>

Simtel.Net does NOT run these servers.

Keith Petersen, General Manager of Simtel(tm)
Simtel.Net is a service mark of Walnut Creek CDROM
Internet: w8sdz@Simtel.Net            http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/
Uucp: uunet!simtel.net!w8sdz           ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet